The year has just begun, but we at Genome are already being proactive in educating our clients and users on all things finance.
We covered the basics of merchant accounts: why they matter, how to set one up, and how they support industries like iGaming and travel. Our team also wrote guides on real-time payments, AI in finance, and local IBANs. We also compared Open Banking with PSD2 and traditional banking to make the differences clearer.
Read on to find out more!
Merchant account setup and its benefits that make companies successful
If you’re selling online, a merchant account is one of the most important financial tools you need. Especially if it offers a wide range of services to enhance your selling capabilities, as in the case of Genome.
In our benefits of a merchant account guide, we explain how merchant accounts can improve cash flow, build customer trust at checkout, and make reconciliation and reporting easier. Especially when you use SEPA and Open Banking options.
And after learning the main advantages of merchant accounts, you might consider opening one. We broke down the merchant account setup to make the process as simple as possible.
The basic steps to go live include: online application, AML/KYC questionnaire, and the payment processor’s checks. After getting approved inside Genome, you can start accepting SEPA Instant/Credit Transfers via instant bank payments. Card payment processing is coming soon as well.
Smarter business banking: tips that keep you in control
Our team shared simple, practical business banking tips that help companies run more smoothly day to day. For one, we explained why a business bank account matters for clean accounting and tax reporting, and how it supports payments and healthier cash flow planning.
You’ll also learn what to look for in a modern setup when you need a business account.
Features like online access, multi-currency support, international transfers, and instant payments (for example, SEPA Instant), plus tools that reduce admin work as your business grows, are a must.
Open an account
in Genome online
Merchant accounts built for iGaming and travel payments
This month, we published two industry-focused guides showing how merchant accounts can support companies with more complex payment needs.
For iGaming operators (online casinos, sportsbooks, esports betting platforms), an iGaming merchant account helps you accept player deposits and manage withdrawals in a structured, compliant way.
The article explains why iGaming is often treated as “high-risk” (for example, higher chargeback pressure and strict licensing rules) and how solutions like Pay by Bank, enabled via our instant bank payments, and dedicated IBANs can help keep transactions fast and easier to track.
For travel businesses (online travel agencies, tour operators, and booking services), the guide explains why payments are more challenging. For instance, take into account cancellations, seasonal spikes, cross-border customers, and multi-currency pricing.
Our team outlined what to look for (fraud prevention, chargeback handling, multiple payment methods, quick settlement) and how multi-currency accounts, Pay by Bank, and SEPA support can help travel companies run smoother payment flows.
Open Banking, compared to PSD2 and traditional banking
As Open Banking becomes more and more discussed within the industry, our team wanted to break down a common confusion: PSD2 is the EU regulation. Meanwhile, Open Banking is the practical framework and technology that uses secure APIs to share data and initiate payments. It is done with customer consent and Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). You can learn more about why PSD2 is important to Open Banking in our guide.
We also recently compared Open Banking vs. traditional banking in plain terms. While traditional banking remains rather popular, Open Banking can enable account-to-account payments like Pay by Bank and help reduce card-style costs, support faster cash flow, and improve the checkout experience.
Open an account
in Genome online
Learning corner: real-time payments, local IBANs, and AI in finance
The financial industry is broad and offers more services each year. Be on top of all the latest innovations. In January, our team also wrote three educational articles to help you navigate modern payments and banking basics.
Real-time payments
Learn what real-time payments are, how they work (account-to-account transfers with instant settlement and confirmation), and why they matter for cash flow and 24/7 operations. We also explain how this works in Europe via SEPA Instant Transfers and how you can unlock them with Genome.
Local IBANs
Find out what a local IBAN is, why it can feel more familiar for customers paying you, and how it can reduce friction in cross-border payments while making reconciliation easier.
AI in finance
Our guide offers a simple overview of what AI means in financial services (AI, machine learning, and automation), along with common use cases such as fraud detection, AML/KYC support, compliance monitoring, and transaction monitoring.
Did you miss Genome’s previous month in review? Don’t forget to check the November updates! There, we focused on articles that help businesses scale and run more efficiently. Our team covered Italian SMEs and multi-currency accounts, mass payouts, travel merchant accounts, plus practical guides on KYC, fraud prevention, and virtual IBANs.
Also, don’t miss out on our year in review, where we listed the most monumental features and accomplishments of Genome in 2025!
